Britain's Electricity Generation Transition 2016-2018:
1. Rapid Decline in Coal Use:
- Coal generation dropped from over 40% in 2011 to just 7% in 2017
- 613 coal-free hours in 2017, up from 200 in 2016
2. Rise of Wind Power:
- Wind provided 15% of electricity in 2017, up from 10% in 2016
- 14 terawatt-hour increase in wind output from 2016 to 2017
- New offshore wind farms coming online (e.g., Dudgeon, Rampion)
3. Renewable Energy Milestones:
- October 2017: Wind, solar, and hydro generated 25% of electricity
- Offshore wind becoming cost-competitive (£57.50/MWh vs £92.50/MWh for nuclear)
4. Overall Electricity Demand:
- Continued 12-year downward trend
- 2017 usage similar to 1987 levels despite population growth
5. Cleaner Electricity Mix:
- Coal and natural gas combined produced less than 50% of total generation
- Cleanest electricity mix in Britain's history
6. Challenges:
- Coal still important for peak demand (1/6 of electricity in top 10% demand hours)
- Need for energy storage to support wind and solar during peak demand
7. Outlook for 2018:
- Expected continued growth in wind generation
- Prediction: Wind, solar, and hydro to provide over 50% of generation for several hours
This summary highlights Britain's rapid transition away from coal, the growth of wind power, and the increasing role of renewables in the electricity mix, while also noting the challenges and future expectations for the energy system.